Discovering You (Part 1)

Discovering You (Part 1)

“We have indeed created man in the best of molds” – (Qur’an 95:04)

We all hold within us the thirst for answers. Most of us at some point in life will come face to face with the fundamental questions which lie within us, yearning to be quenched like a dormant seed in dry soil. In the chaos and excitement of life, we easily pay little heed to the underlying feelings of emptiness, senselessness and longing. Sometimes, an unexpected life crisis amplifies our quiet pesters for solace. Other times, a small but fleeting window of curiosity is opened. Opportunities like these can crack the outer shell of our dormant seeds, exposing our vulnerabilities as the armour of our ego gives way. The answers to such questions are made apparent only when the veils of the ego are lifted, making space for open-hearted, humble inquisitiveness. When the thirst for Truth is born from sincerity, guidance becomes absorbable, and can be manifested into action. This leaves the sincere Truth-seeker in a state of contentment and peace, as every action is purpose-led on a path of spiritual growth. After all, one must be willing to see and use the compass before it can be utilised.  The one who is insincere in seeking Truth remains self-absorbed. Insincerity to guidance is akin to a veil over a prism. No matter how bright the light of guidance shines, one will never see the full colour spectrum.

The existential crisis in and of itself is a sign, a clue, pointing us in the right direction. What’s the meaning of my life? What’s the point? Why am I even here?  Who am I? The “clues”, “signs” or “ayah” in Arabic are all around us (Quran 40:81). In fact, you are yourself a sign (Qur’an 41:53). Knowing yourself is a key stepping stone to unearthing your life purpose, which is to know your Creator and build an intimate relationship with Him by becoming familiar with His qualities. Unlike creation, the Creator has no beginning or end. The Creator creates life, sustains it and ends it according to His Wisdom – which no creation can ever fully comprehend. The Creator, God, or “Allah” in Arabic is completely independent of and separate from the creation. It is for this reason, that by knowing ourselves – a creation of Allah – we can come to know God Himself.

Just as the one who comes to marvel at the masterpiece is then brought to reflect on the intentions and character of the artist behind it, everything about us and around us is a sign suggestive of its Creator, if only we would sincerely reflect.

The Quran ( – The Speech of God which has been preserved for over 1400 years, untarnished by any human being – ) states that God “did not create the heavens and earth and what lies between them for play” (Qur’an 21:16).  There is no accidental life. You are an intentional creation of God, and you have a far greater purpose than what society falsely indoctrinates you to believe.

The meaning of your existence is not limited to this finite world. Rather, your purpose is intimately connected to the One who is not bound by space and time, Who created you, maintains you, sustains you and knows your inner thoughts before even you yourself are aware of them. In fact, God is so aware of you at your every moment that He tells you in the Qur’an that He is nearer to you in all-encompassing knowledge than even your jugular vein (Qur’an 50:16). If you seek to know, then you will find your purpose has been outlined for you in an instruction manual of life, The Qur’an. It is here, God speaks to you directly, not only offering you the answers to your questions, but also a navigation system to be successful in both this life and the life after your death.

“I have not created the invisible beings and humankind except to worship (ya’budoon) Me.”  (Qur’an 51:56)

“(Prophet), when your Lord (Rabb) told the angels, ‘I am putting a vice gerent on the earth, they said, ‘How can you put someone there who will cause damage and bloodshed, when we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your Holiness?’ but He said, ‘I know things you do not.” (Qur’an 2:30)

You are more than a mortal body. Beyond that, you are an undying consciousness, a spiritual being, inclined to both goodness and evil (Qur’an 91:7 – 10). Your dual nature is what enables you to be an exemplary vessel of God’s qualities. This is why God has chosen you to be His vice regent on Earth. Angels are in a constant state of worship of the One God. Their obedience to the Creator is without fault due to a lack of free will. However, this also means the angels are unfit for becoming familiar with entirety of God’s qualities. How can you experience God’s quality of wholesome forgiveness if you never make a mistake to be forgiven?

The fundamental questions of life bubble to our minds only because our Creator has hardwired within us an imprint which inclines us towards our purpose. We are innately disposed to believe in and worship One God, the One Who created us. In Arabic, this natural inclination is called the “fitra” (Qur’an 30:30). We can be socialised to deny the fitra through our upbringing and environment, however it can never be removed. It is a compass pointing towards God that lies within every human being. Some of us choose to keep a veil over it, and traverse a path other that what we are created for. We all have free will to do so. So long as we are alive, the opportunity for unveiling and illumination upon the journey of manifestation of purpose remains available. This is why the declaration of faith in which we bear witness to the existence of God is considered the starting point of our journey to fulfilling our purpose on earth.

From the very opening chapter of Quran, and throughout (as in the verses quoted above), we are informed of our relationship to God. This is your most fundamental relationship; who else, other than the One who created you has the right to tell you who you are?  God describes Himself as “Al-Rabb”, linguistically meaning the Authoritative Master, the Owner, the Nurturer, the Sustainer, the One who is worshipped, the One who gifts upon His creation favours and blessings (Yousef, 2020). Contrary to modern belief, we are intrinsically responsible to our Creator, who is our “Rabb” – and therefore owns us, rules over us, and commands us what to do and what not to do. “Ya’budoon” is the Arabic word used for worship. It’s root word (‘abd) literally means “slave”.

Due to its historical context, the slave-master relationship is frowned upon and is seen as degrading. The idea of obeying and submitting to anyone other than our own selves defies much of what we are taught in today’s day and age. The rules we make for ourselves takes paramountcy, and we often express antipathy for authority – especially when such authority conflicts with our ego or base desires.  However, human authority and Divine authority are two diametrically opposed concepts. Where human authority is corrupted, infected with self-interest, and far from perfect, Divine authority is perfect and wise, far beyond our comprehension. Submitting to God benefits only ourselves. Afterall, God is completely independent and free of need – He is the Only Lord in existence with slaves He does not need!

“Do not be a slave to others when Allah has created you free”. (Ali ibn Abi Talib)

Your human nature is to be a slave. We are all slaves to something, we all “worship” something. Unlike angels, we have free will to choose what we give the utmost gravity and value to in our lives. It may be our own ego, another person, an ‘ism’ such as consumerism, it may be the rat race or even a statue or stone. If we’re not slaves to our Creator, we will become slaves to something else. Yet, the Creator still gives us a choice to obey Him or not. God says “So whoever wills – let him believe, and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.” (Qur’an 18:29). Slavery that is bound to God frees you from the shackles of life, fulfils your purpose and brings about ultimate peace in both this life and the next. This is because by nature of our Rabb, and indeed woven into the Arabic word “Rabb” itself, He is caring, nurturing, tender, and affectionate.

(To be continued)

Author: Marian Stevenson